Experts advise limitations on tourist accommodation in Xàbia to avoid resident exodus

The University of Alicante’s assessment of tourist-use homes offered on online platforms has used the adjective “worrying” to describe the reality of tourist rentals in the Duanes de la Mar neighbourhood of Xàbia, according to a report published in Levante EMV.

The port zone is suffering badly from the tourist rental boom which has gotten out of hand, it said, adding that there are 51 holiday rental spaces for every 100 inhabitants. “There is a clear risk that residents will have to pack up. The pressure from tourist rentals and its perversions (there are no long-term rentals and the few that do become available come at astronomical prices; buying a home is also sky-high) threaten to drive out the population, forcing them to look for homes in other areas of Xàbia and even in other towns”.

The report warned that if this trend continues to grow, it would create problems such as the loss of the native population, the loss of identity, and the loss of coexistence, and ultimately, “turning the port into a theme park for passing tourists”.

However, the university report admits that each urban centre is unique. In the historic centre, the ratio is 15 tourist rental spaces for every 100 residents and there is an upward trend in the weekly rental business (rental between 5 and 10 days) which has been boosting the restoration of empty and abandoned houses in the neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, in the Arenal beach area and in the First and Second Muntanyar neighbourhoods, tourist homes have soared to 1,935 (180 spaces per 100 inhabitants) and the experts point out that the population continues to grow and that this influx of tourists helps to de-seasonalize the situation and generates employment.

The experts also believe that tourist rentals should only be restricted in the port, says the report. They do, however, suggest monitoring the trend in other urban centres to anticipate potential overcrowding problems. In the historic center, it is recommended that the supply never exceeds a range of 30 to 50 tourist rental spaces per 100 inhabitants.

There are 5,971 tourist rentals in the entire municipality of Xàbia and the Cap de la Nau area (Portitxol, Balcón al Mar, Costa Nova, and Granadella) takes the lead in tourist rentals. There are 351 places per 100 inhabitants, and 2,049 vacation homes are located there.

Tourist rentals have changed everything, the report claims, adding that they have clearly had an impact on the rise in housing prices in Xàbia which have increased by 31% since 2022. Now, one square metre is valued at 3,437 euros. Foreigners with cash are flocking to the market for purchases. Credit restrictions make it difficult for residents to get mortgages. Homes are no longer bought to live in, but rather to rent out for short-term tourism. Income from tourism rentals rose to €47.7 million last. The peak income was reached, of course, in August. That month, the holiday rental business generated a whopping €12.5 million.

Experts from the University of Alicante, in addition to recommending immediate restrictions on rentals in the port area, also warn of the urgent need to address illegal rentals. These clandestine rentals “put at risk the coexistence and image of Xàbia as a quality tourist destination.” Furthermore, they cause unfair competition.

Another proposal is to immediately address potential disturbances. Tourists passing through are often noisy (they throw parties). The experts propose “automatically” calling them to stop making noise. They also propose prohibiting the use of ground-floor apartments as holiday apartments and, at the same time, strengthening traditional commerce. Otherwise, what has already begun to be detected will happen: shops will close down and these premises will be partitioned off and converted into tourist accommodation.

Original Article: El Puerto de Xàbia, saturado de alquileres turísticos: los expertos aconsejan limitarlos